Supramolecular chemistry has successfully built a foundation of fundamental understanding. However, with this now achieved, we show how this area of chemistry is moving out of the laboratory towards successful commercialisation.

In this review a selection of the most recent examples of imaging techniques applied to silica-based NPs for imaging is reported.

A series of fluorescent carbazolylurea base anion receptors have been synthesised that show a high affinity for oxo-anions (particularly bicarbonate and acetate). The fluorescence of dicarbazolylurea (1) is quenched upon addition of benzoate anions in DMSO–0.5% water.